Feeding mechanism for gas-producers.



C. W. LUMMIS..

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28. I915.

Patented July 30 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

4o?-v 'h'offper into the charging receptacle, by the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. LUMMIS, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MORGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GAS-PRODUCERS.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented July 30, 1918.

Application filed June as, 1915. Serial No. 36,826.

- T0 allwhom it may concern:

vented a new and useful Improvement in.

Feeding Mechanism for Gas-Producers, of

which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The present invention relates to a feeding mechanism for gas producers, and has particular reference to a mechanism of the above type for mechanically supplying fuel to a producer, by the introduction of successive intermittent charges, the mechanism being adjustable to vary the rate at which the charges are introduced, and also to vary the size of said charges, in accordance with the rate of consumption of fuel within the producer.

The mechanism belongs to that type of feeder which provides a movable fuel receptacle adapted, in one position to receive a charge of fuel from a chute, hopper or other source of supply, and subsequently, to de liver such charge into the. combustion chamber of the producer. One object of my invention is to provide an arrangement and disposition of parts, whereby the operation of devices of this class is improved, with respect to obtaining the greatest possible freedom of movement for the fuel receptacle, and, at the same time, permitting its movement to take place under conditions which eliminate the necessity for shearing through portions of the charge of fuel in the operation of sealing the producer chamber against the escape of gas.

-Another object is to obtain the most eflidifegit; delivery of fuel from the. chute or provision of novel means for restraining undue deflection of the fuel past the delivery end of said chute as the charging receptacle moves beneath the same. Another object is to provide efiicient means for preventing the collection of tar and dirt upon the surfaces of the receptacle and its seat.

Other and further objects and advantages of the mechanism will be particularly described and pointed out in the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional View of a gas producer, equipped with fuel feeding means constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through the feeding mechanism in a plane at right angles to the section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the feeding.

mechanism in the plane of the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the feeding mechanism.

5 is a detail view of an actuating rod.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the driving mechanism associated with the feeding device. 4

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the gas producer shownin Fig. 1 provides a combustion chamber 1 which is inclosed by a stationary cover section 2, the latter being preferably water cooled, and having an opening 3 in its top, for the entrance of fuel. The opening 3 communicates with the interior of a hollow water cooled shell 4 snperposed upon the top of the producer, and providing for the support of the fuel feeding mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention.

The saidfuel feeding mechanism consists of an open ended casting or cradle 5 providing a concave seat 6, from which opens downwardly a passage 7, communicating, through the shell 4 and opening 3 with the combustion chamber 1.

the seating surface 6 of the cradle 5 is slightly less than one half the circumference of the drum 15, whereby the latter is free to move away from said seating surface during its rotation, since the cradle does not extend far enough around the drum for the parts ever to-bind.

In other words, all danger of the drum sticking or binding in the cradle, by expansion or otherwise, is effectually prevented Bolted to each flanged end of the cradle 5 is a plate 8, the

screws 13, 13 are adapted to bear lightly against the upper ends of the blocks 10, 10 when the drum is in operation. That is, the set screws 13, 13 are set up loosely When the feeding mechanism is cold; after the producer is started, and the parts have heated up and expanded in the normal operation, these set screws allow the drum to assume a position for free rotative movement in the cradle, while at the same time holding it properly to its work. In the event of undue or unusual heating and expansion of the drum, the set screws 13, 13.

may be still further slackened off, as. will be readily understood. In other words, these set screwsperformby their adjustability, in effect, the same function as a yielding spring or a weight, except that in practice they afford a better means of holding the drum to its work and thus prevent any accumulation of tar or dirt on the contacting surfaces of the drum and cradle.

The removal of any such accumulation of tar or dirt is assisted by the provision of longitudinally finished strips 16, 16, Fig. 2, on the surface of the drum, these strips being the parts of the drum which are in actual contact with the seat 6. The edges of these strips serve to scrape the surface of the cradle, in the rotation of the drum, and these strips are arranged sufliciently close together so as to provide a sealing contact with the portions of the seat 6 which are on opposite sides of thepassage 7. Furthermore, by thus limiting the contacting surface between the drum and cradle, the friction between these parts is materially re duced.

A fuel spout 17 leading from the hopper, or other source of fuel supply, has suspended therefrom a trough or chute 18, the longitudinal axis of which is inclined with respect to the perpendicular, with its delivery end disposed adjacent the surface of the drum 15 at one side of the axis thereof.

series of vertically spaced holes 21 in the side Walls of said chute, to receive the ends of said rod. In this manner the area of fuel resting by gravity against the surface of the drum, and supporting the column of fuel contained within the inclined chute 18 and the spout 17, is varied.

The drum 15 .has a longitudinal opening 22 in its wall; the circumferential extent of this opening is approximately one-sixth the circumference of the drum. It will be seen that this opening must be of less width than the effective sealing surfaces of the seat 6 of the cradle on opposite sides of the passage 7, since, in the rotation of the drum, in the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. 2, communication between its interior, and the interior of the producer, must be completely closed before the leading edge of the opening arrives at the delivery end of the chute 18. By reason of the inclination of the chute 18, and in consequence of the disposition of its delivery end Wholly at one side of a vertical line passing through the axis of the 'drum, the natural flow of fuel through the necessarily restricted opening 22, when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 2, can never completely fill the drum, since the angle of repose assumed by the fuel does not include the upper portion of the drum, on the opposite side of its axis from the chute 18. The mass of fuel thus isolated within the drum being therefore free and mobile, there is no undue resistance to the shearing action of the rear edge 23 of the opening 22, as would exist if the drum were completely filled at each revolution. In other words, the sealing edge afforded by the drum to prevent the escape of gases from the combustion chamber of the producer, is located above the level of the coal which has been isolated within the drum,

The chute 18 is entirely open on its upper side; however, means must be provided for preventing the fuel from being carried out of the chute by the rotation of the drum, and such means conveniently take the form of a flexible guard which, while holding back the greater portion of the fuel, will allow the large lumps caught in the opening 22 to pass forward without damage to the feeder, or without raising the guard throughout its entire length; as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, stiff wire brushes 24 having their ends in scraping contact against the periphery of the drum, are employed for this purpose. Said brushes are carried upon a bar 25 supported by theplates 12, 12 at the ends of the cradle.

It is necessary to provide, in this connection, devices for removing tar and coal dust from the surface of the drum and particularly the recesses between the finished stripsretaining brushes 24. If desired, a scraper 27 pivoted on a rod 28 extendin between the plates 12, 12 may be employe with its free end resting upon the surface of the drum; for the purpose of removing coal dust, and preventing the passage of small particles of coal which may have passed the brushes 24 and 26, from being carried onto the supporting and sealingsurfaces afforded by the cradle 5. For further preventing the access of foreign matter to the seat 6 of the cradle, a rigid scraper 29, supported by the cradle, is provided, the same being adjustable toward and from the surface of the drum to scrape the tar therefrom.

As a means for imparting rotation to the drum, one of the trunnions 14 carries a flanged disk 30, providing inner peripheral surfaces for engagement by a pair of friction shoes 31, one only'being shown, and an outer peripheral surface for engagement by a single friction shoe 32, Fig. 6. Said shoes 31 and 32 are pivotallymountedon a bifurcated link 33 which extends inwardly from the lower end of a toggle lever 34, being pivotally attached thereto at 35. The toggle lever 34 is carried on the free end of an arm 36 of a bell crank, journaled on said trunnion 14, the other arm 37 .of saidbell crank having a ivotal connection with a two part horizontal connecting rod 38, pivotally attached at its other end to a rocking arm'39. The arm 39 is oscillated through the medium of an eccentric 40 and is provided with a series of holes 41, whereby the pivotal connection thereto of the rod 38 maybe changed, to vary the stroke of said rod. The reciprocation of the rod 38 effects a step-by-step rotation of the drum through the action of-the friction shoes 31 and 32, the movement of the rod 38, to the left, Fig. 1, causing said shoes to bind upon the flanges of the disk 30, thereby carrying the drum in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, while the movement of the rod 38 to the right carries the shoes 31 and .32 out of frictional contact with the rims of the disk, with the result that the drum remains stationary during such movement. The connecting rod 38 is constructed in such a manner that an undue resistance to the rotation of thedrum will enable said rod to become ineffective in rotating the drum until such resistance is removed. To this end the'rod is made in telescopic sections 42 and 43, one of which,

predetermined limit, the inclined surface 45 rides upwardly on the pin, lifting 'the'latch 44 and moving the part 42 independently-of the part 43, whereupon no-motion in an operative direction is imparted to the bell crank 35-36.

The intermittent rotation of the drum 15, in the manner above described, provides for the isolation of measured charges of fuel therein, and the subsequent introduction of the same into the combustion chamber of the producer. Each charge is always less than the total capacity of the drum' the size of the charges may be varied by adjustment of the gate 19, and the rate at which successive charges are introduced may be varied by, adjustment of the stroke of rod 38, through its connection with arm 39.

Obviously, the drum 15, instead of rotating always in one direction, as shown, may have imparted thereto an oscillating movement,'to carry its opening '22 alternately back and forth, into registry with theend of the chute 18 and the passage 7, respectively.- I

It will be apparent that the adaptation of a fuel feeder of the above type to a gas producer, requiring at all times the maintenance of a seal against the escape of gas, involves a construction in which the rear edge 23 of opening 22 moves intoisealing contact with the seat" 6 of cradle 5gbefore the forward edge of said opening arrives at the passage 7, in order to seal the producer chamber against the escape of gas. It is proper to say, therefore, that the arrival of the edge 23 at a radial plane where it makes sealing contact with the seat 6 of the cradle fixes and determines a sealing edge for the feeder, in the operation of discharging the contents of the receptacle into the producer chamber. In the same way, the arrival'of said edge 23 at a radial plane where it makes sealing contact with the seat 6, on the opposite side of the passage 7, efl'ectually prevents the escape of gas from the producer chamber, in theoperati'on of moving the receptacle into position to receive a charge, since said edge 23 must arrive upon the seat 6 before the forward edge of open-. ing 22 passes oil the seat. It follows, therefore, that in confining the effective sealing surface of the cradle to not more than one half of the circumference of the drum,'for the purposes heretofore set forth,the maximum width of the opening 22 .is limited to somewhat less than one-sixth of the circumference of the drum, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The sealing edge, in the operation of discharging the receptacle, being located below the horizontal plane containing the axis of rotation of the receptacle, it is clear that the charging of the drum to its full capacity would result in a spilling of fuel through the opening 22 as the latter approaches the vicinity of the scraper 29. Moreover, under the conditions aboyedescribed, the rear edge 23 of sald opening would be called upon to shear through the fuel, as the said edge approached 1ts sealing position, causing an undue reslstance to the Y movement of the drum and, therefore, prea level in the drum below the plane of the' sealing edge, by the time that the opening 22 has been moved into the vicinlty of said sealing edge. That is to say, that portlon of the fuel in the drum which lies nearest said sealing edge is always lower than said sealing edge, on account of the angle of repose which the fuel assumes 1n response to rotation of saiddrum. As a consequence, no fuel spills through the said opening as the latter draws near to and assumes a horizontal position, nor is there any necessity for a shearing action of the rear edge 23 of said opening, as said edge moves lnto sealing contact with the surface of the cradle.

The invention further resides 1n the provision of the yielding wall afforded by the wire brushes 24, as heretofore explained, and in the provision of the several comblnations of instrumentalities fully set forth in the following claims.

It is to be understood that the term sealing edge, as hereinafter used in the annexed claims, has reference to the herelnbefore described location fixed by the arr1val of the edge 23 in sealing contact wlth the seat 6 of cradle 5 in the operation of discharging the contents of the drum into'the producer chamber.

The provision on the surface of the drum of the longitudinal finished strips 16 insures the freeing of the seating surface of the cradle from deposits of tar or coal dust which might be carried thereon in the continued operation of the feeder. The scraping devices, heretofore described serve, in turn, to remove such foreign matter from the surface of the drum.

The provision of a substantially gas tight seal, by the cooperation of the drum with the seating surface of the cradle, as hereinafter specified in the annexed claims, has reference merely to such a seal as would preclude the excessive escape of gas from the combustion chamber of the producer, and is not to be construed as limiting said claims to a construction providing a drum and cradle fitted with such exactitude that no leakage of gas could take place.

I claim:

1. In a fuel feeding mechanism, a rotatable ported charging member having its axis free to shift radially, and a supporting means for said member providing a concave seat whose effective surface embraces not more than one half the circumference of said member, whereby said radial-shifting movement of the axis of said member is permitted.

2. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable charging member having an opening, a supporting means for said member providing a concave seat whose efiective surface embraces not inoie tlira one half the circumference of said member, said seat providing a passage to the producer chamber for registration with said opening, a sealing surface on each side of said passage, the width of each sealing surface being greater than the width of said opening, and means for removing tar and dirt from the surface of said rotatable member.

3. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a'rotatable ported charging member having its axis free to shift radially, and a supporting means for said member providing a concave seat whose effective surface embraces not more than one half the circumference of said member, whereby said radial shifting movement of the axis of said member is permitted, said seat providing a passage to the producer chamber for registration with the port of said member, and a sealing surface on each side of said passage, the width of each sealing surface being greater than the width of said port.

4. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable charging member having an opening, a supporting means for said member providing a concave seat whose effective surface embraces not more than one half the circumference of said member, said seat providing a passage to the producer chamber for registration'with said opening, said seat and said member cooperating to form a substantially gas tight seal against the escape of gas from the producer cham her in every position of said member, and means for limiting the charge received by said member to a volume less than the capacity of said member.

5. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable charging member having an opening, a supporting means for said member providing a concave seat having a passage to the producer chamber for registration with said opening, and means for segregating a charge of fuel in said member, of such a size as to prevent the lodgment of fuel between the edgeof said seat and the rear edge of said opening, in

/ producers, a rotatable charging member ity flow of havin' an opening, a supporting means for said member providing a concave seat having a passage to the producer chamber for registration with said opening, and means for segregating a charge of fuel in said mem ber, of such a size as to prevent the lodgment of fuel between the edge of said seat and the rear edge of said opening, in the retation of said member, the member and said seat cooperating to form a substantially gas tight seal against the escape of gas from the producer chamber in every position of said member.

7. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable charging member, a seat for said member embracing less than the full circumference thereof, and means for removing tar and dirt from the surface of said charging member.

. 8. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable charging member, a

seat for said member embracing less than the full circumference thereof, means for removing tar and dirt from the surface of said charging member, and means carried by said charging member for removing tar and dirt from the surface of said seat.

9. In a fuelfeeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable charging member, a fuel feeding spout mounted in operative relation thereto, and a guard extending across and forming one side of said spout, said guard comprising a plurality of independently ieldable sections.

10. n a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, amember providing a concave seat having a passa e leading therefrom to the producer cham er, a cylindrical fuel charging member journaled in said seat and having an opening for cooperation with said passage, the effective surface of said seat embracing not more than one half the circumference of said member, and means for limiting the charge received by said member, whereby to prevent the discharge of fuel through said opening prior to its registration with said passage.

11.- In a fuel feeding mechanismfor gas producers, a chute providing for the gravfuel, a rotatable hollow member having an openin for registration periodically with the delivery end of said chute, a portion of said member being disposed above the slope assumed by the fuel in reaching its angle of repose as it passes by gravity through said opening and into said hollow member, whereby the filling of said member to its full capacity is prevented, and means for varying the effective area of thedelivery end of said chute.

12. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a chute providin for the gravity flow of fuel, a rotatable hol ow member hav ing an opening for periodic registration with the delivery end of said chute, and a yielding wall comprising independent sec-" tions extending across said chute and disposed opposite the bottom of said chute,

, against which the fuel is carried by the rotation of said member.

13. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a chute providing for the gravity flow of fuel, a rotatable hollow member having an opening for periodic registration with the delivery end of said chute, and means, yieldable in sections across the width of said chute, for retarding the movement of fuel out of said chute as urged forward by the rotation of said member.

14. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a chute open on its upper sideand providing for the gravity flow of fuel,

a rotatable hollow member having an opening for periodic registration with the dehvery end of said chute, and yielding means j comprising independent sections, disposed across the upper side of said chute, for retarding the movement of fuel out of said chute. i 1 15. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination with a rotatable charging member, of a seat therefor providing a passage to the producer chamber and cooperating therewith to form. a substantially gas tight seal against the escape of gas from the producer chamber in every position of said member, and means carried by said member for removing tar and dirt from the surface of said seat by the rotation of said member.

16. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a member rovidin a concave seat having a passage eadingierefrom to the producer chamber, a cylindrical fuel charging member jonrnaled in said seat for cooperation with said passage,'the effective circumferential extent of' said seat bein not more than one half the circumference o said member, and means for scraping the surface of said member in advance of its passage into contact with said seat.

17. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable member adapted in one position to receive a charge of fuel, and in another position to discharge the same into the producer, a supporting means in which said member is jonrnaled, said supporting means being effective with respect sition.

19. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable ported charging member having its axis free to shift radially, a a supporting means for said member providing a concave seat whose effective surface embraces not more than one half the circumference of said member, whereby said radial shifting movement of the axis of said member is permitted, said seat providing a passage to the producer chamber for registration with the port of said member, and said seat and said member cooperating to form a substantially gas tight seal against the escape of gas from the producer chamber in every position of said member.

20. In afuel feeding mechanism for gas producer, a rotatable hollow fuel charging member having an opening, means coiiperating with said member to provide a sealing edge below the axis of rotation of said member, and a fuel chute having its delivery end disposed at one side of said axis of rotation, in position for periodic registration with said opening, whereby the level of fuel in said member is maintained below said sealing edge.

21. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination with a rotatable fuel charging member having an opening, of a seating means effective with respect to not more than one half the circumference of said member, said seating means providing a passage for cooperation with'said opening to receive therefrom the charge of fuel carried by said member, and means for preventing the charging of said member to its full capacity, whereby the movement of said opening onto saidseating means is unobstructed.

22. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, the combination with a rotatable charging member, of a seat therefor providing a passage to the producer chamber and cooperating therewith to form asubstantially gas tight seal against the escape of gas from the producer chamber in every positlon of said member, said member having spaced longitudinal ribs on its periphery in contact w1th sald seat.

23. In a feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable hollow member adapted I hollow member.

24. In a feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable hollow charging member having an opening for the discharge of its contents into the producer chamber, means for limiting the volume of each charge'of fuel received by said member, and means for providing a sealing edge against the escape of gas from said chamber as said member approaches its discharging osition, said sealng edge being located a ove the level assumed by the charge of fuel within said member, when the rear edge of said opening approaches said sealing edge.

25. In a feeding mechanism for gas producers, a rotatable hollow charging member having an opening for the discharge of its contents into the producer chamber, means for limiting the volume of each charge of fuel received by saidmember, and means for providing a sealing edge against the escape of gas from said chamber as said member approaches its discharging position, said sealing edge being above the adjacent portion of the'fuel charge within said member When the rear edge of said opening approaches said sealing edge.

26. In a fuel feeding mechanism for gas producers, a hollow rotatable charging member, supporting means for the trunnions of said member adapted to permit limited radial shifting of the axis thereof, and a seat for said member whose effective surface embraces not more than one half of the circumference of said member, whereby said shifting of the axis is permitted, said seat cooperating with said member to form a substantially gas tight seal against the escape of gas from the producer chamber in all positions of said member.

Dated this 24th day of June, 1915.

CHARLES IV. LUMMIS.

, Witnesses:

PENELOPE CoMBERBAoH, NELLIE WHALEN. 

